Over 4,000 residents living in Navua face the possibility of being without tap water for at least three weeks due to a burst main. The issue arose from a 24-millimeter hole discovered in an asbestos cement pipe, which was submerged under 1.8 meters of water in the Wainikavika irrigation dam, located just outside Navua Town.
Seremaia Tuiteci, the District Officer for Navua, has reached out to the Ministry of Primary Industries requesting permission to open the dam gates in order to manage the water supply more effectively. He confirmed that repair efforts will commence as soon as access to the damaged pipes is possible. However, with repairs expected to take about three weeks, local schools may need to close early if the situation does not improve.
Prithi Raj, the headteacher of Vashist Muni Primary School, explained that the school had to shut down for sanitary reasons due to the ongoing water supply issues. The residents have already experienced shortages for several days. Tuiteci mentioned that the Public Works Department (PWD) plans to install 1.5 kilometers of galvanized pipe along a new route to resolve the issue permanently.
In response to these challenges, Tuiteci assured residents that the PWD is using this opportunity to not only fix the current damage but also to upgrade the entire pipeline system, which has been a recurring source of problems in Navua. He stated that the asbestos cement pipes would be replaced with six-inch galvanized pipes.
While the community has expressed frustration over the disruptions, some residents noted that regular maintenance and inspections could have possibly prevented the current situation. Mr. Raj pointed out that since the introduction of tap water services in 1954, the demand for water has significantly increased due to population growth from hundreds to almost 5,000 residents, yet the aging pipeline infrastructure has remained unchanged.
To mitigate the immediate impact, officers from the Navua District Emergency Services Committee (EMSEC) will oversee the distribution of water via road tankers. Tuiteci confirmed that eight trucks from Suva Water Supply are actively delivering water to the affected areas, aiming to ensure fair distribution to all residents, including nearby villages and health centers. Some families have resorted to using the river for washing and bathing, while drinking water continues to be provided by the water trucks.
Despite the current hardships, this situation presents an opportunity for the PWD to enhance the water supply infrastructure, potentially leading to a more reliable water system in the future for Navua’s growing population.
In summary, while the water crisis in Navua is serious and has caused significant inconvenience, the community can look forward to improvements that may prevent such occurrences in the future.
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